CT: April 01, 2008 14:40:30 CSTCATTLE PRODUCERS REQUEST APHIS TO WITHDRAW FEVER TICK RULE
R-CALF USA was pleased last month to learn the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced more than $5 million in emergency funding top implement a fever tick eradication program in response to the growing infestation in areas formerly free of fever ticks along the Texas/Mexico border.

CT: April 04, 2008 14:27:28 CSTSOYBEAN ACRES CLIMB ABOVE 2 MILLION
Mississippi's soybean growers are not alone in their enthusiasm for planting a large crop this year, and the market knows it.

CT: April 04, 2008 14:29:55 CSTREGIONAL LIMOUSIN SHOW ENTRIES DUE MAY 1
The Western Limousin Exposition opens June 12 this year, and the Southeast Summer Classic opens June 19. The WLE marks its third year in Klamath Falls, Ore.; and the Southeastern Limousin Breeders Association again will host the SSC in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

CT: April 07, 2008 14:55:16 CSTCHANGES IN THE FUEL INDUSTRY HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON PRODUCTION COSTS
Without a doubt the most common topic of conversation for livestock producers at this point in time is the high cost of production. Not just feed, not just fuel, not just fertilizer, not just equipment but virtually every component of food animal production has escalated dramatically over the last couple of years.

CT: April 07, 2008 14:57:18 CSTCOMMODITY INSIGHT
Enormous sums of money are being made and lost daily in the stock and commodity markets due to volatility.

CT: April 08, 2008 13:16:10 CSTHUNTIN' DAYLIGHT -- HIGHER COSTS, EITHER WAY
As commodity prices continue to escalate, driven by increased global grain demand, as well as subsidized grain-based ethanol, all kinds of lingering fundamental debates are being ushered to center stage.

CT: April 08, 2008 13:19:16 CSTIT'S THE PITTS -- UNFAITHFUL
Every day there's news of another celebrity or politician who was caught being unfaithful to his or her mate.

CT: April 09, 2008 15:28:06 CSTPROGRESS SLOW IN FIGHT AGAINST FEVER TICKS
A few miles north of the Rio Grande, where spring temperatures climb past 100 degrees, helicopters work in concert with cowboys to gather cattle, thorny bushes nick kneecaps, and dust and manure swirl up noses and down collars, and cowboys inspecting, dipping or treating cattle are gritty and soaked with sweat before noon.

CT: April 10, 2008 15:05:46 CSTOPTIMUM COW SIZE IMPORTANT FOR EFFICIENCY
Over the past several decades the average cow on many ranches has increased in frame size, and in recent years some stockmen are realizing that their cattle have become too large to be efficient.

CT: April 14, 2008 15:18:43 CSTMIDLAND BULL TEST INTRODUCES GROWSAFE SYSTEMS
Forty miles southwest of where Leo McDonnell and Steve Williams stand, the Beartooth Range rises abruptly from the valley, blotting out the last traces of sunlight.

CT: April 15, 2008 15:41:39 CSTUSDA IMPLEMENTS KEY STRATEGY FROM NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM BUSINESS PLAN
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that it has implemented a key strategy from its Business Plan to Advance Animal Disease Traceability by providing National Animal Identification System compliant "840" radio frequency eartags to animal health officials for use in the bovine tuberculosis control program.

CT: April 21, 2008 13:08:03 CSTRISING FUEL COSTS FORCE CATTLE PRODUCERS TO FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY
Unless you have been completely asleep the last year or so, it is obvious that we now live in a very different economic environment. While all individuals and businesses have been affected by the changes, largely manifested by the world fuel situation and federal fuel policy that is faulty at best, few groups have been harder hit than the family farm and agriculture in general.

CT: April 24, 2008 07:32:56 CSTBLACK INK -- FOOLED AGAIN?
Choice beef is worth more than Select grade. That's because consumers prefer higher quality, and have been willing to pay more for it. So, why did Select beef sell for more than Choice for a few days this spring?

CT: April 24, 2008 15:00:30 CSTLITTLE-KNOWN BREED GAINING INDUSTRY ATTENTION
Maurice Boney is worried about the beef business. He says the U.S. cow herd is too diverse, comprised of too many breeds and too many gene-trait combinations, to ever produce consistently high-quality products for consumers.

CT: April 24, 2008 15:02:09 CSTDEVELOPING HEIFERS CORRECTLY ENSURES PRODUCTIVE LIFE
Management protocols often follow mission statements or reflect something stated in an end-of-the-year financial statement or lost market share to competitors. This business world jargon may sound like a foreign language to some ranchers; however, most realize, to succeed, these terms need to become part of their production model.

CT: April 25, 2008 12:38:33 CSTIT'S THE PITTS -- MR. SO AND SO
I forget people. People I've known forever. Just last week I ran into three old friends who I know as well as I do the back of my hand and yet I could not remember their names.

CT: April 28, 2008 15:03:27 CSTINVISIBLE LUNG ADHESIONS CAN HAVE HUGE IMPACT
When cattle get sick, it hurts performance and quality. But it's not always easy
to tell those cattle from the healthy ones. Cattle with chronic pneumonia can
cost producers nearly $80 per head, without showing signs of illness.

CT: April 28, 2008 15:07:02 CSTAMERICAN BREEDS COALITION TO HOLD PRODUCER SEMINARS
The American Breeds Coalition; an organization comprised of Beefmaster, Braford, Brahman, American Red Brangus, Santa Gertrudis and Simbrah will be holding two upcoming producer seminars in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

CT: April 29, 2008 14:02:09 CSTTAX COURT PROVIDES FORUM TO DISPUTE TAX DEFICIENCIES
Now, the U.S. Tax Court is a Federal court established by Congress to provide a forum in which taxpayers can dispute IRS tax deficiencies assessed against them. This is a court, as it were, of last resort for taxpayers.

CT: April 30, 2008 15:35:39 CSTSTATE MONITORING FOR ARRIVAL OF DEADLY BEES
A recent incident on the Gulf Coast involving angry European honey bees reminds Mississippians to be prepared for the likely arrival of more aggressive Africanized honey bees.